Uber protests: RMT union backs taxi cab strike June 9, 2014 The RMT transport union has lent its support to a planned day of protest by licensed taxi drivers, who aim to clog central London streets tomorrow in protest at car hire apps such as Uber. The union said it will fly a “Cabbies against Boris” banner during the protests, due to start in Trafalgar Square [...]
Black cabs’ Uber protest: How much will it cost London? June 9, 2014 The protest planned by black-cab drivers against the start up taxi ordering service Uber could cost London’s economy £125m. The demonstration, organised by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, is expected to cause traffic gridlock in the capital on Wednesday afternoon. Based on data from the Centre of Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the [...]
Uber valued at $17bn in new funding round with Fidelity June 6, 2014 Mobile car booking service Uber has been valued at $17bn (£10.13bn) after raising $1.2bn of primary capital in a new fundraising round. The San Francisco-based firm – set up just four years ago by entrepreneurs Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick – raised the cash via a group of institutional investors, mutual funds, private equity and [...]
Row over Uber app heading to the High Court May 29, 2014 TRANSPORT for London has asked the High Court to endorse its view that the Uber car booking service complies with laws on taximeters. The Licenced Taxi Drivers Association, which has criticised the app for unfairly competing with London’s black cabs, said the decision does not affect its plans to hold protests over Uber’s tactics on [...]
Uber app joins $10bn club with new fundraising May 15, 2014 Innovative car hire app Uber is set to hit a valuation of $10bn (£6bn) in its latest round of funding as the company looks to raise less than $1bn from new private equity investors. The San Francisco-based startup, whose iOS and Android app offers smartphone users the ability to book a car in 113 cities [...]
London faces chaos as black cabs go head to head with Uber May 8, 2014 London's black cabs are on the war path against innovative taxi app service Uber, promising to cause widespread disruption across the capital in early June. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) argue that Uber's drivers are using an app to calculate fares. It is currently illegal for private vehicles to be equipped with taximeters. However, [...]
The super-duper Uber app April 30, 2014 Alex Dymoke on the minicab app that helped Londoners through the strikes THIS is my second day on Uber. I went for my test day and they said I was ready to start right away,” Omar my minicab driver tells me excitedly. He is polite and chatty, reminiscing about the days before sat-nav and waxing [...]
Uber offer a discount alternative to tube strike mayhem April 28, 2014 Eager to keep commuters moving throughout planned strike action on the Underground, Uber's new "KeepLondonMoving" promotion will allow Londoners to receive a 50 per cent discount for splitting a car. Those getting involved need only request a ride via the service's mobile app, then opt to split the fare with their "Uber-savvy friends". The deal [...]
Berlin follows Brussels with Uber ban April 17, 2014 Germany's capital city has followed the lead of Brussels and banned the insurgent taxi service Uber. The San-Francisco based company was served with an injunction by a Berlin court for hurting competition. In a sign that European taxi drivers are increasingly worried they may have to provide a quality service at a decent price, the [...]
Belgian court bans Uber app April 15, 2014 Taxi drivers in Belgium could face a €10,000 (£8,260) fine every time they pick up a passenger who has booked through smartphone app Uber, a Brussels court ruled yesterday. European Commissioner Neelie Kroes hit out at the decision, arguing it hurts consumers and innovators. “This decision is not about protecting or helping passengers – it’s about [...]